Cause and Effect [Hiatus]

~x~ Prologue ~x~

 

>As you finish the document, you place it inside the drawer.

>It has been a very hectic week due to all this paperwork.

>This was a good chance to get some reading done.

>Sitting down on the chair placed in the corner, you look around.

>Books line the shelves in an array of colors and sizes.

>The noon sun illuminates the room, leaving no corner dark.

>Reaching over to one of the shelves, you grab the book labeled "The Princess in You".

>Even if it has been thousands of years, this book has always been there for you.

>This was not, of course, the original book, but a reprint of it.

>The original was deep inside the archives, where it was to be preserved for years to come.

>As you begin to get sucked into its writings, a hard knock interrupts you.

"Come in."

>The door slowly open, revealing a very stern pony in plate armor.

>He bows down in front of you, concern plastered across his face.

>"Your highness, it seems that the soothsayer requests your presence."

>You can feel your ears perk up.

>It has been... what, a couple hundred years since you last heard anything from her?

"Fetch a chariot at once. We must see her immediately."

>With a quick nod, the stallion bows once again and takes off.

>You quickly leave your seat and place the book back onto the shelf.

>Leaving the study, you make your way towards the castle grounds where your chariot awaits.

>The guards quickly assist you onto your ride and make the precautions to ensure a safe ride.

>After latching themselves to the cart, they lift off and head north.

>The wind takes no hesitation to press itself against your face, not that it bothered you much.

>Getting out of the castle was a nice change of pace, but not for something like this.

>The last time she called for you, it was to warn you of a basilisk that was being awakened by an evil unicorn.

>Looking around, the scenery changes from buildings and houses to grass and trees almost instantly.

>Trees begin to take over the land as you head over the Everfree Forest, leaving no sight of the actual ground.

>For what feels like an eternity, you continue flying over the forest, only to stop over a pristine lake.

>A small hut stands on the edge, puffing out smoke like an old pony with a pipe.

>It seems you have reached your destination.

>The pegasi slowly lower the cart, careful not to rock it around.

>As it lands in the fertile soil, the wheels slowly sink in.

>The two pegasi quickly jump from their reigns and assist you off the chariot.

"Thank you," you tell them, gracefully making your way to the small hut on the edge of the lake.

>You lift your hoof as you attempt to knock on the door, only to have it open before you can.

>"Come in, Princess. I have been expecting you."

>The voice is raspy and weak.

>A guard attempts to enter the building alongside you, but you stop him short.

"This is a private matter. I know you mean well, but nop0ny can hear the words spoken inside this home but me."

>The guard hesitates, trying to think of a reason to go with you, but only nods in agreement instead.

>It was best he didn't fight it anyway. It was your word over his.

>As you make your way into small abode, a heavy scent fills your nose.

>It smells of incense and herbs, making a lovely but obnoxious fragrance.

>It had been some time since you had been here last, but it hasn't changed at all.

>The cauldron still sat in the middle of the room under a fire pit, which was the only thing lighting up this windowless structure.

>A small hole in the ceiling lets the smoke escape so that there wouldn't be a suffocating cloud inside the room.

>The walls are covered in strange drawings and incantations, giving the hut an eerie feel to it.

>”How have you been?”

>You jump as the shadow next to you moves into the light, revealing a very old zebra.

>Her hair was weathered, white, and old.

>The wrinkles on her face show that her age was that of an old one.

>She slowly walks up to the cauldron and looks inside.

>Grabbing a large wooden spoon, she stirs something that seems like herbs into the strange liquid inside and directs her gaze at you.

>"It looks as if you haven’t aged a day, my dear."

>You weren’t sure if she was being sarcastic or serious, but that didn't matter at this point.

>What mattered was the fact that she summoned you.

>For her to call upon you meant that something was wrong.

"Thank you for the compliment, but I digress. I know I wasn't called here for you to just comment on my appearance."

>The zebra chuckles and turns her head back to the cauldron.

>"Straight to the point, my dear? Well it seems that something interesting has arrived into this world… TWO things, to be accurate."

>She stops stirring the liquid and leans back, motioning you to move forward and look inside.

>You lean forward to see what this cauldron had in store for you.

>A field covered in bodies is displayed.

>Stains of blood are spread all across the grass.

>Bodies of unknown creatures lay across the floors, screaming in agony and dismay.

>They were bipedal creatures, much like Minotaurs, but they did not have hooves and horns.

>It seemed they were in a battle, but with what was not clear.

>Two of these creatures stood out, however.

>One laid against the floor holding a sword and shield, sporting a silver-colored plate armor covered in trails of blood.

>Another one of the creatures, clothed in a dark robe, stood over the other, laughing.

>Ripples come across the liquid, changing the scene completely.

>It was now inside of your throne room, with this creature bowing before you before parting.

>The image is interrupted with a new one.

>A hospital room is displayed where a mare lies on the bed with a stallion to her side.

>She holds a purple unicorn foal in her hooves, shedding tears of joy.

>The liquid ripples, changing the scene once again.

>It was an all familiar scene. It was the main lecture hall where the same purple unicorn standing before the council.

>Her test was... “different” than the normal ones.

>She was to hatch a dragon egg, a purple one covered in green polka dots.  

>One last ripple travels across the cauldron, leaving an image of the same pony, only she wasn’t an unicorn now, but an alicorn instead.

>The soothsayer removes the spoon before allowing the vision to go any further.

>Lifting your head, you look at her.

“What does this all mean?”

>The soothsayer places the spoon down and shrugs.

>”It could mean anything. But one thing's for certain: Their destinies will tie together, whether it be directly or indirectly.”

“How can you be certain?”

>”If two visions happen in one sitting, they will intertwine with one another.”

>She turns around and sits, facing the wall, looking at one of the writings on the wall.

>It was completely illegible to you, but she seemed to be entranced by it.

>”For years I’ve watched everything around me. I have foreseen wars, cautioned threats, and predicted problems, but there is one thing I cannot see.”

>She looks down to the ground.

>”I have not seen how each of my predictions end. It is the one thing I cannot see.”

>She waves her hoof, signalling for you to exit.

>So many questions filled your head, but there was no point in imposing them on her.

>The soothsayer was a stubborn zebra and would not give you the answers to something she didn’t know in the first place.

“Thank you for your help, as always.”

>You make your way for the door before she stops you with one final statement.

>”You might not know everything that is going to happen, but there will be time for all of that later, my dear.”

_________________

>Mortal men were nothing but lamb to the slaughter.

>Your sword has cut down countless men and creatures, leaving nothing but death in its wake.

>It was not that you took joy in killing, it was more the fact you had no choice.

>This land was yours and you had to defend it.

>Anything that crossed into your land unwelcomed, human or not, was to be slain.

>But you had not counted on this.

>Today was supposed to be a battle that would be remembered for ages.

>The rivaling country to the North had declared war against your people.

>Being the lord’s right hand man, it was mandatory that you would be out on the battlefield.

>However, that did not mean you were doing this for him.

>The lord wasn’t exactly “righteous”. In layman’s terms, he was a very corrupt man.

>The only reason you served him was because you swore an oath to do so.

>As a child, you had been left behind after your village had been slaughtered in a bandit raid.

>The lord came to you and said he would care for you, but you had to swear your allegiance to him.

>Being that you were left with nothing, you agreed to the terms.

>His elder brother, the ruler of the land, was the one who ended up taking care of and raising you.

>The lord seemed like a good man, until you got to know him.

>After watching him stab his only brother in the back for the throne, it became clear what he really was.

>But still, you continued to fight for him, though in reality, you were fighting for nothing other than your country.

>The land you hailed from was what drove you to draw blood across your sword each day.

>The people in it were a fine bunch and would always be willing to help to care for a man who would return the favor.

>Today, many have died with that belief in mind.

>The bodies lay across the plain around you, bringing nothing but grief to your eyes.

>But there was no time for mourning. There was only time for fighting.

>An enemy quickly sprints towards you, waving his sword above his head like a madman.

>Releasing an annoyed sigh, you raise your shield and brace for impact.

>They must have thought their war cries would give them strength to defeat their enemies or something.

>As his sword slices through the air, you lift your shield up, swatting it away with brute strength.

>Left completely dazed and confused, the man’s chest is open and exposed.

>With a swift thrust, you quickly stab through his flimsy armor into his chest as if it was made of butter.

>The man’s eyes roll behind his head as you place your foot upon his stomach and retract your sword.

>Looking out across the field, you notice a tent being protected by a few enemy soldiers.

>It most likely held the leader of their land; taking him down would bring this battle to a screeching halt.

>Whoever he was, he was more of a man than your ruler if he was out on the battlefield with his men, even if he wasn’t fighting.

>You turn around to your comrades who have just finished off their opponents, raising your sword into the air.

“Men! Let us finish this battle swiftly! Our enemy’s leader is right before us!”

>You point your sword towards the tent, giving them the hint.

“Let us end this once and for all! If not for our wives and children, then for our fallen brethren!”

>They yell out their battle cries, lifting their swords in unison.

>Sprinting alongside your men, you all raise your shields to block any incoming arrows as you make way for the tent.

>A couple of your men break off from your group every time a batch of enemies attempts to slow you down.

>The housing grows closer with every step as more and more of your men break off to defend you.

>You are left with Herald, your best friend and brother in arms.

>As you reach the tent, three enemy soldiers block your path.

>One swings his sword, aiming for your head over your shield.

>In a fluid motion, you duck, dodging his attack.

>The fool was leaning into his swing, a novice mistake.

>Taking your sword, you slash him across his exposed neck, splitting it open with ease.

>He falls back from the force of the swing as the blood splatters across your face, clenching his neck before quickly bleeding out.

>Turning to the other two, you ready your sword.

>Herald quickly runs in from their side and throws one down by surprise.

>He quickly parries the other’s attack before turning to you.

>”Anonymous, make haste! I will hold them off!”

>You nod before smiling at him.

>”Don’t you die just yet!”

>He grins before turning his attention back to the two men.

>You enter the tent and look around.

>It’s pitch black, but you can make out a faint outline in the far end.

>In the blink of an eye, an unrelenting force sends you flying out of the tent.

>You’re laid flat across the ground, unable to move.

>Before you is a man dressed in a black robe, chanting uninterpretable phrases.

“You are a coward to stand behind magic. Why not face me like a true man with a sword and shield in hand?”

>The evil enchanter chuckles, shaking his head.

>”I may be a coward, but I am no fool, Anonymous.”

>You feel your heart sink upon hearing your name.

“How do you know my name? Who are you?!”

>He brings his wretched face close to yours, revealing a sinister smile.

>”This whole “war”? It was solely planned for this moment right here. Your lord felt that you were getting too smart for your own good, being chivalrous and all. The last thing he needed was you turning his people against him. However, you have been good to him, so he doesn’t wish to kill you. That is why I will banish you to a world far away, unknown to us.”

>His hands begin to glow with a black mist before covering you.

>A slow burning sensation begins to cover your body as it slowly fades away.

>Letting out a blood-curdling scream, you slowly disappear from existence, leaving behind not a single trace.

 

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

~x~ Chapter 1 ~x~

 

>This headache... It wasn’t normal.

>It’s been so long since you have felt a headache like this. It could only mean one thing: Dark magic.

>The pain started almost immediately after you got back on your chariot from the soothsayer’s.

>As you near the castle, the headache begins to intensify.

>One of the guards guiding the chariot turns his head and notices your pain.

>”Princess, are you alright?” he screams over the deafening winds.

>You wave your hoof to try and signal him and remove his suspicions.

“Yes, everything is fine. I merely have a headache. Do not worry.”

>He nods and continues to fly towards the castle.

>This was an obvious lie, but it was not every day that something like this would come up.

>If you were right, whatever was causing this was on Canterlot Mountain.

>As your ride lands on the balcony, you quickly step off before giving out an order.

“I have a task for you two.”

>The two pegasis stallions stand in attention, ready to serve.

“Take a small group of pegasus guards and check the mountain for anything suspicious. If you find anything, please alert me immediately. I will be in my usual spot in the garden, trying to rid this headache.”

>They nod and immediately carry out your orders.

>In almost a flash, they fly off and alert the other pegasi in the air.

>You make your way towards the castle gardens, trying to play this headache off.

>The gardens always calmed you down whenever you were stressed.

>Listening to the small critters communicate and smelling the fresh air could ease any troubled mind.

>Your favorite spot was below a big willow tree where the canaries would sing their sweet songs to attract a mate.

>Their songs of love reminded you of your younger years when love was a naive thought.

>As you venture into garden, two ponies catch your eyes.

>A handsome stallion sporting a dark blue wavy mane and tail laid with a lighter blue coat across a bench with a young mare wrapped around his hooves.

>She had a straight mane colored white and purple, a grey coat, and quite a bulging belly. It was plainly obvious that she was pregnant.

>If you weren’t mistaken, they were the nobles of the court who recently moved into the castle grounds.

>It would be best to get to know them since they would be living with you.

>They take notice of your presence and immediately scramble up to bow to you.

>”P-princess Celestia!” stammers the young stallion, trying his best to help the mare down from her seat.

>As quickly as you can, you wave them down before they leave their seats.

“Please, there’s no need for that.”

>You did like that ponies respected you enough to bow, but it made you feel like a tyrant when they did it only because it was customary.

“I merely wanted to converse. You both are new to the castle grounds, correct?”

>They exchange nervous looks and turn back to you, nodding. No matter how many times you went through this awkward scenario, you could never get used to it.

“What might be your names?” you ask, trying to break this awkwardness.

>”My name is Night Light and this is my wife, Twilight Velvet. We just moved into the castle about a week ago,” the stallion explains.

“Ah, you must be the new nobles that my advisor spoke of. I must apologize for my negligence. I have been rather busy and unable to give you a proper welcoming.”

>The colt shakes his head, finally breaking a smile.

>”No no! It’s fine, your majesty. We had a tour and such already. We did want to see the garden for ourselves, though. I feel it will help Velvet relax and not worry about the baby,” he says, rubbing his wife’s belly.

“Oh! Is this going to be your first child?”

>The mare shakes her head.

>”No, we already have a fine colt by the name of Shining Armor. This foal is actually late. She was supposed to be born two we-”

>She suddenly jerks, holding her belly.

>A spray of liquid spews from behind her, covering the seat.

>”My water just broke! Oh dear!”

>Her husband quickly jumps down and attempts to help her down from the seat.

>You wave down one of the guards who quickly lands in front of you at attention.

“Please bring a chariot here immediately. This mare is in labor and needs to be taken to the hospital as quickly as possible.”

>The guard salutes and quickly flies away to carry out his orders.

>Turning back to couple, you attempt to calm the worried mother.

>She begins to breathe in rapid successions.

“We’ll have you in at the hospital in no time. Just please remain calm.”

>About a few minutes later, the chariot can be seen coming in from the sky, making its way down toward you and the others.

>The guards and Night Light help the mare onto the chariot.

>They begin to lift off as you tag alongside the chariot.

>One of the guards takes a look and notices you.

>”Your majesty, should you really be coming along? Wouldn’t it be best if you stayed at the castle?” he screams over the howling wind.

“These are my nobles. I want to ensure their safety.”

>The guard merely nods and continues his flight.

>After making a smooth landing, the lead flyer rushes inside the hospital as the others help Velvet down.

>Two nurses rush out and assist the mare, rushing her inside on a wheelchair.

>It is time to witness the beauty of life one more time.

------------------------------------------------------------------

>Standing outside the hospital room, you await the news.

>It has been five hours now and still no word of if everything was alright.

>You begin to pace back and forth in waiting room, not able to withstand the tension any more.

>Even though you had no part of this birth since you were not family, you felt it was your duty to worry about your ponies’ well-being.

>A nurse makes her way toward you, a smile plastered on her face.

>”Your highness, the two ponies wish to see you.”

>Giving her a smile and a nod, you follow her into the room.

>Your heart sinks upon seeing this scene.

>A hospital room. A mare lying on the bed with a stallion to her side.

>She holds a purple unicorn foal in her hooves, shedding tears of joy.

>This was the vision, the soothsayer’s prediction.

>The two ponies look at you in concern before you realize what you’re doing.

>Your face contains a look of complete horror, as if you witnessed a homicide.

>You quickly place a smile on your face and move up to look at the foal.

“My apologies. I just haven’t seen such a happy moment like birth in quite a while.”

>They return the smile and nod their heads. Seems like they bought that excuse.

>Looking down, you inspect the child. She had a light purple coat with a darker purple and pink striped mane. This was definitely the foal from the vision.

“Might I ask what her name is?”

>The mother looks up and beams.

>”Twilight Sparkle.”

>A heavy knock is heard from the door.

>The nurse opens it as three guards enter the room. They salute as they approach you.

>”We apologize for interrupting you Princess, but we have an important report from our scan of the mountain.”

_______________________________________________________________

>Your eyes slowly open, looking up at the giant grey sky.

>How long were you out for? It couldn’t have been out more than an hour or so.

>And it was so cold. How could this be? Winter wasn’t for another few months.

>Letting out a sigh, you can see your breath outside your helmet.

>Lifting yourself up, you feel every muscle and bone ache in your body.

>The blood rushes to your head, leaving you in a slightly dizzy state.

>After you recover from the dizziness, you look around and feel your heart slowly sink.

>By the looks of it, you were on a mountain.

>You definitely weren’t anywhere near home. There were no mountains anywhere near the main city.

>The dark wizard’s spell must have worked. You can feel a little bit of yourself die inside.

>Everything you loved and worked for... gone in the blink of the eye. Your wife, kids, neighbors... they were all gone.

>Feeling like a complete train wreck, you remove your helmet and gauntlets to wipe the tears away.

>What did you do to deserve this? You always followed orders. You were always kind to your brethren.

>So why you?

>Sitting here and feeling pity for yourself wasn’t going to make things any better.

>You stand up and lean against a tree for support.

>There were only two questions you needed to find the answer for.

>Was there a way back home? And how were you going to get back?

>Then it hit you like a brick. The lord was the reason for this.

>A wave of anger swells within you. If it weren’t for him, you’d be home right now.

>You wouldn’t be in some desolate land about which you knew nothing.

>Raising your fist up, you begin pounding it into the tree.

>At this point, you had to release your anger somehow. Pounding harder and harder into the tree, chunks of bark and timber begin to fly out of it.

>Your arm begins to grow heavy as you continue your strikes, but anger quickly numbs it.

>With each blow, you imagine your lord’s face in the tree’s crater-sized hole.

>You quickly stop yourself as you become aware of what you are doing.

>Standing here attacking a defenseless tree isn’t going to fix anything.

>Pulling away from the plant, you look over at the spot where you were lying.

>A smoldering black outline of your figure is imprinted on the ground.

>Lying alongside it are your sword and shield, patiently waiting for their owner to pick them up.

>You pick them up, sheathing your sword and latching the shield onto your arm.

>Leaning back against the beaten tree, you look down at the cindered outline again.

>The wizard’s spell was successful, that was clear.

>You were in some unknown land. That’s a definite fact.

>There was one question still eating at you: Is there a way back?

>One thing was obvious... sitting around here wasn’t going to get you any closer to home.

>You had to find shelter before nightfall or risk freezing to death out here.

>Looking at the ground to your side, you can see a paved path layered in dust.

“If there’s pavement, there’s civilization at the end of it.”

>The cold wind begins to thrash against your armor as you climb up the path.

>Something catches your attention, however: the flapping of wings.

>You look into the sky and see the faint outline of what seems like... a horse?

>You must have hit your head or something, because you’re pretty sure you just saw a pegasus.

>They’ve been extinct for hundreds of years now, much like their unicorn cousins. This was a definite sign that you were nowhere close to home.

>Whatever it is looks at you and quickly flies away toward the mountain peak before disappearing.

>You shake your head and continue to walk. It was best not to think too deeply on it.

>The long winding path feels as if it goes on forever. Each step feels as insignificant as the other.

>Something felt as if it was dragging you along. Like a small wire was guiding you.

>Illegible signs appear on the path’s sides as you further climb the mountain. You must be getting close to civilization.

>Snow begins to fall as you approach what seems like a small city.

>The buildings look empty, most missing doors or having broken windows.

>It’s safe to say this city was abandoned by choice, not because of war or raids.

“Hello?”

>Your voice echoes throughout the streets and leaves a ringing in your ears.

>Like a high fall, a memory comes crashing down on you.

>Fire licks the rooftops as it consumes the building. Corpses of loved ones and neighbors lie in the streets.

>The only thing stirring in the streets is the sole survivor, a child no older than ten years old.

>”Hello?” he whispers, only to hear his own voice respond back to him.

>You shake your head, trying to escape that memory.

>That was long ago. It was best not to dwell on that memory.

>Looking up to the top of the city, you see a building that catches your eye.

>It looks much like the altar that was from your hometown.

>You begin to climb the large staircase towards the building as the snow begins to fall at a rapid pace.

>After what feels like an eternity, you make it to the top of the staircase.

>A setting sun lights the main hall of the building, emitting a warm glow.

>Looking through the glass, you could see it was a spitting image of the one back home.

>Decaying wooden pews, a stand covered in moss, vines tangling along the walls, flora covering the floors; not a single thing was different.

>The lord had deemed the altar a slight against his name when he had taken power, so he forbade the people from ever visiting it again.

>You open the giant doors and they loudly squeak, echoing throughout the hall.

>A feeling of nostalgia kicks in as you walk to the stand. You weren’t exactly a religious man, but you did keep the rules to heart.

>At least, most of the rules.

>The only thing different about this altar were the windows. The stained glass told a different story than the one of your gods.

>On each pane showed what seemed like two unicorns with wings, one being a majestic white and the other being a striking blue.

>It showed how they were the reason for the sun and moon’s rising.

>There were panes of two battling strange creatures, most of them familiar from the textbooks you used to read and others you have fended off yourself.

>Krakens, Hydras, even what looked like a Chimera, which were just a myth to your people.

>There was a pane of them warding off a dragon as well. From your past experiences, you know for a fact that dragons were no laughing matter.

>These creatures seemed like a powerful pair, but the last pane was puzzling.

>It showed the blue horse being attacked by the white one, sending it to the moon.

>A civil war perhaps? It was impossible to tell from just glass panes alone.

>You turn away from the glass panes and walk down the aisle towards the stand.

>As you grew up in the central city, you would come to the altar to pray for the safety of your people.

>They were your main concern; you wished that what had happened to you before would never happen again.

>Kneeling down before the stand, you fold your hands together and place them against your head.

>The fact that you were going to pray for yourself leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.

“I know I am not the most... faithful to the gods, but I never really ask for your help. Please find me a way home. That is all I wish for.”

>”I cannot promise you will make it back, but I can promise you that I will try to help you in your endeavours,” say a graceful, motherly voice.

>You jump up and immediately draw your blade, ready to defend yourself.

>Your eyes can’t even fathom what they see. Standing in the doorway is a majestic white unicorn with wings.

>She was much smaller than the horses you had from back home. The books always showed unicorns being taller than  humans.

>Looking over at the glass panes, you see the resemblance. It was the “god” that rose the sun.

>She has a mane that looked like a colorful mist with a crown sitting on top of her head.

>Two small pegasi dressed in plate armor quickly rush forward, only to be halted by her wingspan.

>They stand away from her with their eyes still glued on you.

>Sword still raised, you step back.

>You couldn’t trust this thing. What if it was a doppelganger merely trying to trick you?

“What manner of beast are you?”

>She chuckles and replies back.

>”I was just about to ask you the same.”

>Sword still raised you answer the question.

“I am but a simple human. I presume you are a horse?”

>She shakes her head.

>”Close. I am a pony, my race being that of an alicorn.”

>An alicorn?

“I have never heard of such a race. I have heard of unicorns and pegasi, but they are extinct in my world.”

>You look at the panes and back to her.

“You are a god, no?”

>A frown falls upon her face.

>”No, I am not a god. I am merely the ruler of this land.”

“And what is the name of this land?” you ask in a curious tone.

>Her warm smile returns as she waves her hoof at the window.

>”The land of Equestria.”

>She kneels down, showing a sign of peace.

>”I have seen a vision of your arrival. I welcome you to our home.”

>You slowly sheathe your sword and move forward. The plated pegasi jerk almost on instinct but are withheld by her signal once again.

>Kneeling down before her, you take off your helmet and look her in the eyes.

“My name is Sir Anon, Head Knight of the southern country.”

>She gives you a warm smile and raises her hoof.

>”My name is Princess Celestia. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

>Grabbing her hoof with your hand, you feel as if the world has shifted into a different direction, like two unlikely forces have collided.

>”Might I trouble you to take a walk with me?”

“I don’t see why not.”

>She turns to the two pegasi and gives them a nod.

>They salute her and fly off into the sky.

>You both make your way down the staircase, slowly descending towards the rising moon.

“Might I trouble you with a question Princess?”

>She smiles and gives you a nod.

>”By all means, go ahead.”

“What happened to this city and its inhabitants?” you ask, pointing at the abandoned homes.

>Her look of happiness quickly changes to that of depression.

>”This was once a great city. We all used to live here many years ago. One day, however, my sister, Princess Luna, became resentful. She was the one in charge of raising the moon. The ponies would sleep throughout her beautiful nights which she worked so hard to bring to them. She was consumed by hatred and attempted to create an eternal night. I ended up bashing her to the moon to contain her.”

>That explained the story displayed on the glass panes.

“But this city shows no sign of struggle or war. That doesn’t explain why there is no one here.”

>As you reach the bottom of the staircase, she give a disheartened sigh.

>“We left because of guilt.”

>She looks up to the sky.

>Following her lead, you also look up. It was much more obvious than you expected.

>The moon was in clear view from anywhere in this city.

“My apologies, Princess. If I had known, I would have never asked.”

>She shakes her head and returns gaze back to you.

>”No, it’s quite alright. Now, might I ask you a question?”

>You turn to her, eyebrow raised.

“Certainly Princess. As long as it isn’t about my dear friend Herald’s bachelor party, it should be fine.”

>She tilts her head in confusion before you wave the statement away.

“It was merely a joke. By all means, ask away.”

>She looks down at the ground, avoiding any means of eye contact.

>“My guards saw how violent you got when you first woke up. I saw the battle you were part of in the vision. I am concerned for my ponies safety and would normally never let a violent creature into my castle.”

>Her eyes meet your, glistening in the moon’s light.

>”But I feel as if- Neigh, I KNOW you would never harm any of my subjects unless in self defense. I feel your services will be of great use to me until we find you a way home. If I allow you to stay in my castle, do you promise me never to hurt any of my fellow ponies?”

>Tearing your eyes away from her gaze, you look up into the sky at the beautiful stars.

>She was... “different”, to say the least. Unlike your lord, she had compassion for her subjects, something he could definitely learn a thing or two about.

>Besides, if what she told you was true, she could easily banish you to the moon if you stepped out of line.

>You turn back to her, cracking the first smile in what felt like ages.

“I wouldn’t even think of it, your highness.”